Northampton and Amherst, MA - The Colby Women's Tennis team wrapped up its fall season this past weekend at the NEWITT tournament hosted by Smith and Amherst College. This event features teams of two or three players competing in both singles and doubles. Each round consists of one doubles match and two singles matches, with the team winning two out of the three advancing in the draw. The mules had two teams of three in the A draw and two teams of two in the B draw competing this weekend.
The duo of junior Michaela Landry and first-year Tina Barrow captured a first-round victory on the opening day of competition. While the other three teams moved into the consolation of their respective draws, Landry and Barrow advanced to the semifinals of the B draw after a strong win over MIT.
The following day of competition started off strong from the trio of senior captain Isabella Suk, sophomore Ella Novion, and first-year Soumya Wijesekera, who faced Amherst in the A draw consolation. With the round starting off in doubles, Amherst took the doubles point but Colby bounced back in the singles as Novion dominated with a 6-2, 6-2 win, and Wijesekera clinched the match with a gritty third-set tiebreaker win 6-3, 0-6, 10-5, to move the team into the next round of consolation. The other A draw trio, senior captain Amelie Gal and sophomores Anna Rende and Waka Aida, also found success defeating Trinity. Aida earned a straight set win (6-4, 7-5), while Gal came back after losing the first set in a tiebreaker to win 6-7(4), 6-3, 10-5, sending the team to the next consolation round. Both A draw teams ultimately fell to Amherst duos in their following matches. Meanwhile, Landry and Barrow continued to dominate in the B draw semifinals against Springfield. After winning their doubles match, Michaela lost her singles match and it was up to Tina to win her match to move the team to the finals where they faced MIT. The duo started with losing their doubles match and then found themselves in third set tiebreakers to determine the match. After a long battle, Barrow won her match 1-6, 7-5, 10-5, leaving it up to Landry to close the match and win 6-4, 3-6, 10-5 to defeat MIT and claim the B Draw Championship for Colby.
Among the celebration of the win for the Mules, junior Kendall Skulley was honored with the Lynn Miller Warrior Award, presented to a junior or senior who embodies competitiveness and integrity.
The Mules fall competition has officially come to an end as the team heads into the offseason. Colby Women's Tennis will return to action in early March to begin their spring matches.
